NEW YORK, NY/8/28/06Brad Thor, New York Times best-selling author of Blowback and Takedown, has signed a new deal with Atria Books for another two novels, Judith Curr, Executive Vice President and Publisher of Atria Books and Washington Square Press announced today. Emily Bestler, Vice-President and Executive Editorial Director of Atria, acquired World English Rights to Thors books from Heide Lange at Sanford Greenberger Associates. Pocket Books will be the paperback publisher of both books.

Brad Thor’s appeal is unique, Bestler said, His stories, his perspective, his access to inside information and his sense of humor are finding a quickly growing audience across every segment of the reading public. We are thrilled to have been a part of his career from the very beginning."

The new deal comes on the heels of Thors most successful publication of his career, Takedown, which went on sale earlier this summer. Takedown is based around a large scale terrorist attack in New York City, eerily identical to the recently uncovered plot to destroy the Holland Tunnel and PATH train tunnel.

Thors innovative plots and extensive knowledge of intelligence, special operations and terrorist communities has made him a favorite inside the Beltway. Thor even accepted an invitation from the Department of Homeland Security to participate in their "Red Cell", an elite group of writers and artists who are commissioned to dream-up terrorist scenarios for our government.

"We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Atria and Pocket Books," said Lange, Five years ago they successfully launched the first book by this extraordinary author. With each new title, they have steadily grown both his sales and passionate fan base. We share their ambitious vision and are grateful for their support, commitment, and innovative plans for his 6th and 7th thrillers."

Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Thor studied Creative Writing at the University of Southern California under renowned author T.C. Boyle. Additionally, Thor was the award-winning creator, producer, writer, and host of the critically acclaimed Public Television travel series, Traveling Lite, which is still seen internationally throughout Europe, Canada, South America, Asia, the Middle East, and Russia.

Thor is married to Trish Palmer who serves as team physician for the World Series champion Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Bulls. They currently live in Chicago with their two children.

Atria Books is an imprint of Simon & Schuster, a part of the CBS Corporation. Simon & Schuster is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Childrens Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Online, and international companies in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our website at www.simonsays.com